يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَـٰرِيبَ وَتَمَـٰثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَٱلْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ رَّاسِيَـٰتٍ ۚ ٱعْمَلُوٓا۟ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكْرًا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ 13
Translations
They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles. [We said], "Work, O family of David, in gratitude." And few of My servants are grateful.
Transliteration
Ya'malūna lahū mā yashāu min mahārība wa-tamāthīl wa-jifān ka-l-jawāb wa-qudūr rāsiyāt. I'malū āl Dāwūd shukrā wa-qalīl min 'ibādī al-shukūr.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the jinns worked for Prophet Sulaiman, crafting magnificent items including mihrabs (prayer niches), statues, large basins, and massive cooking pots at his command. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that these artisans were commanded to work with gratitude, and Allah emphasizes that few of His servants truly practice shukr (gratitude) despite their blessings. The ayah highlights both the miraculous capability granted to Sulaiman and the importance of recognizing divine favors with thankfulness.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Saba (Meccan), which discusses the reign of Prophet Sulaiman and the miraculous subjugation of the wind and jinn to his authority. It appears in the broader narrative of divine favors granted to Sulaiman, contrasting material grandeur with spiritual obligation—gratitude being more valuable than wealth.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 7405: The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever is grateful, has been grateful to Allah, and whoever is ungrateful, has been ungrateful to Allah.' This hadith reinforces the emphasis on shukr (gratitude) central to this ayah's message.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that possessing great abilities and blessings is secondary to expressing genuine gratitude to Allah for them; true nobility lies not in what we accomplish but in acknowledging that all accomplishment flows from divine favor with a grateful heart.